Texas cop shoots man stabbing pregnant girlfriend

The officer arrived on the scene to see the man actively stabbing the woman as she lay on the ground

By Bill Hanna and Mitch Mitchell
Fort Worth Star-Telegram

WATAUGA — A Watauga police officer shot a man in the head Friday afternoon as the man stabbed his pregnant girlfriend while another woman lay injured nearby, police reported.

The shooting and stabbings occurred about 1:20 p.m. outside a house in the 6400 block of Patsy Lane.

The officer, who was just blocks away when a 911 call came in, arrived to find one woman lying on the ground and another being stabbed by the man, said Sgt. Jason Babcock, a police spokesman.

"One victim was on the ground, and the male suspect was on top of the other female actively stabbing her," Babcock said.

"It became a deadly-assault situation, and the officer fired once, shooting the male suspect in the head. He then radioed for medical assistance."

Investigators learned that the man and one of the women were in a relationship, Babcock said.

The man and one woman were taken to John Peter Smith Hospital in Fort Worth. The other woman was taken to Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Fort Worth, Babcock said.

The wounded man was in critical condition, Babcock said.

The man's girlfriend was still at the hospital, and her condition was not known late Friday, he said. The other woman was treated for a stab wound on her hand and cuts on her face and was released, Babcock said.

The officer, whose name and rank were not released, has been placed on routine administrative leave. He is relatively new to the department, Babcock said.

Watauga police have called in the Texas Rangers to investigate the shooting.

Babcock said the officer's actions likely saved the women's lives.

"The officer was so close it would appear he got there in time to save possibly one life or two," Babcock said.

Police believe that at least one of the women lives at the house on Patsy Lane and that one of them called 911.

Both women and the man are young adults, Babcock said, but he did not release their ages.